Uk Gas price
- Thread starter rocky
- Start date
WreckITFrank
Technical Excellence Contributor
brutal...i feel like it's the same ratio as my LR3/4....$4 a gallon and 14 MPG....or $7 a gallon and 50 MPG with a bit less room
LRNAD90
Well-known member
Isn't the majority of the cost of fuel in Europe Taxes though? Quick search and it looks like the UK has a roughly $3/ US Gallon tax, vs US fuel taxes (About $.67/gal in my state)
Current average gas price in MD is about $3.14 for regular unleaded, minus $.67 is about $2.47/gal without taxes..
$7.23/ Gal minus $3.00/ Gal tax = $4.23/ gal
So it is about 70% more expensive for the actual fuel cost at the pump..
Verses roughly 225% more when looking at the cost of the fuel taxed...
(Apparently the Netherlands, Italy and Finland have even higher gas taxes than the UK)..
Current average gas price in MD is about $3.14 for regular unleaded, minus $.67 is about $2.47/gal without taxes..
$7.23/ Gal minus $3.00/ Gal tax = $4.23/ gal
So it is about 70% more expensive for the actual fuel cost at the pump..
Verses roughly 225% more when looking at the cost of the fuel taxed...
(Apparently the Netherlands, Italy and Finland have even higher gas taxes than the UK)..
blueboy
Well-known member
Gasoline per U$ gallon when we lived in Switzerland 10 years ago was $8.55 per gallon for 98. The price per liter has increased since there yet the exchange rate is better so ends up about the same. The ‘94 LWB we took over really performed well with the ethanol free unleaded 98 octane. It was brutal filling it though!!
rocky
NAS-ROW Addict
Fuel tax on petrol (gas) is about 52p per litre/Liter and Sales Tax is 20%. About 54% of the price at the pump goes straight to the Government as tax.
Tax on Petrol.
We'd have an out and out revolution if someone tried to do that here.
Tax on Petrol.
We'd have an out and out revolution if someone tried to do that here.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
I will say as someone who lives in the UK I have never driven down a road and thought this is terrible. I know there are roads there that are garbage; however, every motorway is a pleasure (minus traffic) and their road works typically are timely. So I dislike the taxes on principle, but don’t mind them as I can visibly see the taxes going to use.
Gas prices may be high, but the cost of vehicle ownership is not very high if you’re willing to go full on Euro, too. Used vehicles are cheaper in comparison to the same models in the US. I swapped a diesel LC95 for a gas Yaris. £20 annual road tax and 50+ mpg when I drive it. Almost 40mpg with the Evoque diesel when I drive. My wife is a different story in both vehicles. She keeps higher revs and lower gears where I will use 5th or 6th at 30 mph if the road allows it.
Gas prices may be high, but the cost of vehicle ownership is not very high if you’re willing to go full on Euro, too. Used vehicles are cheaper in comparison to the same models in the US. I swapped a diesel LC95 for a gas Yaris. £20 annual road tax and 50+ mpg when I drive it. Almost 40mpg with the Evoque diesel when I drive. My wife is a different story in both vehicles. She keeps higher revs and lower gears where I will use 5th or 6th at 30 mph if the road allows it.
I’m pretty confident I’ve seen fuel at or over $7/gallon in California.
It’s also worth noting that public transit is much more practical to use in Europe and that most people aren’t driving great distances on a regular basis like we are.
It’s also worth noting that public transit is much more practical to use in Europe and that most people aren’t driving great distances on a regular basis like we are.
MountainD
Technical Excellence Contributor
I’m a guy that travels back and forth to Europe a lot. Yeah, higher taxes in UK/EU. No doubt. They get WAY more for their taxes though. How much, btw, do you pay on healthcare PER YEAR. You may work for a place that gives a huge break on that, but it still comes from you whether you know it or not. And after your “care” do you still get a bill? Wait till your 50+, you will. Do the math on just that one variable. Then look at emissions and what they do driving down mileage per gallon versus pollutants per gallon and compare eu to us. Hmmmmmm they got so much more mileage and power per gallon….why? Better you look for yourself. Lastly, and this may be hard to fathom, but we still subsidize big oil even though they post record profits. What?! Yep. Want to know how much we screw the consumers and taxpayers here? Hold onto your hats. How does bearly 6-1/2 BILLION dollars PER YEAR sound? AGAIN, do the math on how much we pay even when we don’t know we pay.
So yeah. It costs more. lol. Spend time there, you won’t mind too much. I’m about to do a 1000 mile road trip there. Won’t be in a defender though. Something small and light that gets 55mpg. Ill still spend way more on whisky.
So yeah. It costs more. lol. Spend time there, you won’t mind too much. I’m about to do a 1000 mile road trip there. Won’t be in a defender though. Something small and light that gets 55mpg. Ill still spend way more on whisky.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
True! Local bus service is £2.50 anywhere. For a family of 5 it’s about even for us to drive to the city and park or take the bus. A solo adventure is easily cheaper.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
Agree, but the healthcare is a pain in the ass. At least in the UK. We have jumpstarted the process multiple times by going private initially then letting the necessary info get passed to NHS GPs who will then take the appropriate course of action to avoid the wait times.
rocky
NAS-ROW Addict
Don’t get me started on Health care and the NHS. Grew up in a NHS family, Mum a Doctor, Dad a Dentist. While I was there the latest great grandchild for my Mum arrived. Like other grandchildren over there L&D is a crapshoot, the lack of continuity of care is awful. She ended up with an Emergency C section. Mum and baby are ok.
blueboy
Well-known member
We lived in Switzerland for 5 years. A quart of oil was 25 CHF or about 31U$. It was what it was and we enjoyed our time there yet it was expensive. Possibly GB is different.
LRNAD90
Well-known member
I pay way to much for Health Insurance, no arguing the fact. Not clear that socialized medicine is better for your health in the end though. I'm not rich, and it hurts to see what comes out of my paycheck each time for health insurance. And it hurts to see how much I'm still responsible for when I need to use it.
On the same token, more money can be earned, but you can't get back your health if you've lost it. The US healthcare system has lots of issues, but judging by the number of wealthy people that come to the US for treatment, it still seems it may be the best option from a treatment prospective. The UK's residents may not have to pay out of pocket for health care, but it seems like another on of life's 'you get what you pay for' conundrums.
If you are young and healthy, socialized medicine probbably looks really good, for sure. But if you are not, well, not so sure..
MountainD
Technical Excellence Contributor
I admit when I wrote what I did about Healthcare, that it a) had no relevance to the thread (sorry) and b) that I just got a $2800 bill for basically a blood test and was pissed. However, the cost of petrol/diesel doesn't really affect my decisions beyond the convenience of how many times I have to stop to fill up. Why? I drive about 12,000 miles a year, give or take. In my Audi (diesel), the cost of diesel is either $4 here or $8 there---let's just say a $4 difference. $1600 per year. HOWEVER, that isn't really the case. My Q5 TDI makes 30 mi/gal. My cousin in UK made 43 mi/gal. $632 difference per year. Just saying, it doesn't really make that much of a dent unless you are living paycheck to paycheck.
mgreenspan
Founding Member
Agreed. I remember a time when gas rose to $2.00 and I had to not drive my Discovery as a college student. Now I’d not think about changing habits/vehicles until it’s closer to $15.00.
evilfij
Well-known member
Higher gas prices ——> less traffic
$20 a gallon would be great. And I would still drive my vehicles which are 20mpg tops. Of course, this fewer cars and driving, is what they want, here and in Europe. We could have small, inexpensive vehicles that get 50mpg plus on diesel or even gas, but those have been regulated out of existence and frankly, driving such a vehicle among full size pick ups and SUVs is not so pleasant (or safe). Look at the new Toyota pick up available for Asia. And even that has $1000s in unneeded safety and emissions content.
Also, on healthcare, I don’t have insurance. It was costing me $21k a year just for me as I had to pay all the costs and until this year it was required. For whatever reason, they changed that policy so I don’t have insurance. Everyone seems horrified by this fact but I don’t believe in doctors or medicine so I was basically flushing money away.
$20 a gallon would be great. And I would still drive my vehicles which are 20mpg tops. Of course, this fewer cars and driving, is what they want, here and in Europe. We could have small, inexpensive vehicles that get 50mpg plus on diesel or even gas, but those have been regulated out of existence and frankly, driving such a vehicle among full size pick ups and SUVs is not so pleasant (or safe). Look at the new Toyota pick up available for Asia. And even that has $1000s in unneeded safety and emissions content.
Also, on healthcare, I don’t have insurance. It was costing me $21k a year just for me as I had to pay all the costs and until this year it was required. For whatever reason, they changed that policy so I don’t have insurance. Everyone seems horrified by this fact but I don’t believe in doctors or medicine so I was basically flushing money away.
blueboy
Well-known member
This was / is exactly the Swiss philosophy. That and smaller displacement engines - the main reason for 2.0L or smaller in most EU Countries is the 2.0L was the largest before tax penalties. The tax guy loved the 4.2 V8 in the Rangie.
Ansley Rover
Active member
This guy gets it. Penicillin, the Polio vaccine and anesthesia are for suckers!
mgreenspan
Founding Member
I’m impressed by the efficiency and power in the small VW gas TSI engines they put in the large SUVs (skoda kodiaq, vw Tiguan all space, etc.). They return decent mpg and put out enough power.
blueboy
Well-known member
Yep. We also had 5 door Polo with 1.4L engine while in CH. The little guy could easily cruise at 120kph on the highways and with the manual zippy around town all while delivering very respectable mileage. It was a great car for my wife and the Labs as a daily driver.
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